Current location:Stellar Sphere news portal > sport
Early man's best friend was the fox as the animal was domesticated by humans, research suggests
Stellar Sphere news portal2024-05-08 00:16:56【sport】6People have gathered around
IntroductionNotorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance.But they used
Notorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance.
But they used to be man's best friend, according to a study. Researchers analysed remains found at an ancient burial site in Patagonia, Argentina dating back to 450AD.
While it contained the skeletons of 18 adults and six children, there was also evidence that an ancient fox species was buried alongside the humans.
Analysis revealed foxes were buried in the same graves, and had shared a similar diet to humans, indicating a close relationship.
The species of fox discovered - Dusicyon avus - was roughly the size of a German shepherd but is now extinct.
Notorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance (Stock image)
But, according to a study, they once used to be man's best friend (Stock image)
The researchers, which included scientists from the University of Oxford, suggest the fox was potentially a companion pet for hunter-gatherers.
READ MORE: The dog breeds that really ARE man's best friend - so is YOURS on the list?
AdvertisementHowever, they believe the introduction of the modern dog led to their decline as companion animals.
The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, reads: 'The co-burial of humans and foxes is a rare archaeological record worldwide, and suggests a cultural or symbolic significance.
'Although the reasons for its inclusion in a mortuary context remain unclear, the most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups.
'Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted.'
Address of this article:http://capeverde.adventistmissionjapan.org/content-67d699927.html
Very good!(5997)
Related articles
- Sports betting roundup: Betting the under works in hockey Game 7s while basketball goes over
- Mercedes upgrades its electric EQS to give the EV a huge 511 mile
- I'm a female solo traveller... here are THREE European cities I wished I'd skipped
- Apple users are still discovering hidden new features inside iPhone's iOS17
- Judges ask whether lawmakers could draw up new House map in time for this year's elections
- Move over Mykonos! Paros is far more laid
- Astronaut Thomas Stafford, commander of Apollo 10, dies aged 93: Air Force three
- HK$3.5 billion Hong Kong Palace Museum opens after typhoon delay
- Defending national champion LSU boosts its postseason hopes with series win against Texas A&M
- Inside Lausanne
Popular articles
Recommended
Relegation
After Berlin, Zelensky signs French security pact amid Navalny shock
The best beaches in the world for 2024 ranked by Tripadvisor
How to invest to beat tax raids
Wisconsin judge dismisses lawsuit challenging state's new wolf management plan
Will the Bank of England cut interest rates soon? This is Money podcast
Now THAT'S a room with a view: Inside the St Regis Abu Dhabi
Mercedes upgrades its electric EQS to give the EV a huge 511 mile
Links
- Traditional Ethnic Culture Enjoys Modern Glory on School Campuses
- Experts Restore Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
- World University Games Village Opens in Chengdu
- Couples Get Married on Qixi Festival in China
- Spring Bud Girls Attend 2023 Changchun Air Show
- China Post Issues Commemorative Stamp to Mark 10th Anniversary of BRI
- Heritage Protection Breathes New Life into China's Millennia
- Closing Ceremony of 31st FISU Summer World University Games Held in Chengdu
- More Measures Called for to Boost Births
- Arxan in N China's Inner Mongolia: An Increasingly Popular Tourist Destination